Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest organ?

In addition, it is visible to the outside world.

Therefore, it is important to take good care of your skin with appropriate creams, drink enough water and protect it from external influences such as sunlight.

But there is another important aspect that your skin comes into contact with most of the day and which many people underestimate: Textiles!

You wear it, you dry yourself with it, you sleep in it. Actually, our skin comes into contact with substances 24 hours a day.

People with skin problems such as eczema will often already be forced to make certain adjustments when it comes to textiles.

But people with sensitive or dry skin or skin with blemishes also do very well to educate themselves about the best substances for the skin to make better, skin-friendly purchases from now on.

If you have irritated, sensitive or dry skin, certain substances can actually aggravate this, but with normal skin, some substances are not as nice either.

Because even if you don’t suffer from sensitive skin, or skin problems like eczema, textiles made from natural materials are still nicer. In fact, it also breathes much better and also you can develop skin irritations later on by wearing the wrong material.

The best fabrics for sensitive skin

Which substances give you irritations depends partly on the person, of course, but we can say with reasonable certainty that some substances are less good for the skin.

Natural fabrics are better for the skin than synthetic materials. This includes both animal and vegetable textiles.
Some people, such as vegans, prefer non-animal products, but this is a personal preference regardless of what it does for your skin.

There is still a bit of a dull and dusty image around organic clothing, but nowadays there are lots of (web) shops that sell very beautiful and trendy clothing made from natural materials.

Silk

It is often thought that satin and silk are the same materials. But nothing could be further from the truth, because satin is not a material but a way of weaving.

For example, satin can be woven from cotton, silk and other fabrics. It is very finely woven and is therefore smooth and shiny, which is why it is often mistaken for silk.

Silk, on the other hand, is an animal textile made by silkworms.

This fabric is tremendously breathable, quick-drying and can even hydrate the skin because of the amino acids it contains.

These amino acids are retained even after washing!

Another big advantage is that silk is always organic, since no pesticides can be used. This, in fact, kills the caterpillars.

Linen

Linen is a vegetable fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant.
Linen is also very breathable and quick-drying, and garments made of linen are usually designed loosely, so it is not tight on the skin.

Linen is also one of the strongest vegetable fabrics available, making it very long-lasting. Besides being ecological, it is also very comfortable and can be worn casually as well as to chic occasions.

Did you know that linen used to be worn only by the creme de la creme!

Cotton

One of the most widely worn and well-known fabrics. Cotton is a vegetable textile made from the cotton plant. Cotton is so popular because it is very comfortable and soft and it has a lot of stretch.

It also absorbs moisture, such as sweat, quickly and dries smoothly as well. As a result, there is no moisture between the fabric and the skin, which is often the cause of irritation.

Although cotton is usually less strong than linen, it still has a long shelf life and is also eco-friendly. Preferably choose organic and Fairtrade cotton.

Hemp

More and more things are being made from hemp, which is not surprising because hemp is a very durable, plant-based material.

Clothing made from hemp lasts more than three times as long as cotton, it resists stains well, is warm in winter and cool in summer, naturally moth-resistant and keeps out more Uv rays than other fabrics.

This fabric is also very absorbent and the more you wash it, the more beautiful it often becomes. A very suitable textile for many reasons and especially for people with sensitive skin.

Which substances you prefer to avoid
Synthetic substances, are man-made substances.

This type of textile is bad for the skin because, first, it is not natural fibers and it is not absorbent, and second, it is often treated with chemicals several times.

Often garments have been treated, such as dyed with dyes or made crease-resistant with formaldehyde.

In addition to being inadvisable for (sensitive) skin, it is also harmful to the environment because these chemicals are released during washing and because these clothes are not biodegradable.

Acrylic

This is one of the most common synthetic fabrics because it is inexpensive and often easy to wash without additional regulations.

Moreover, there is a lot of choice in colors, which you have less with 100% wool sweaters, for example. It is therefore a popular material, but it is really just plastic, often full of chemicals and therefore highly inadvisable for people with sensitive skin.

Moreover, the quality is much lower, which means you have to buy new garments more often. Thus, despite being cheaper, you often spend more money this way.

Polyester

Many garments are still made of polyester, although often reminiscent of the disco era.

Often the material is mixed with another fabric such as cotton, which sometimes allows you to wear it without problems, but clothing made of 100% polyester is not recommended for people with a predisposition to skin irritations.

But even without sensitive skin, it is still better to choose a different material. Everyone has probably worn a polyester shirt on a hot day. That’s a lot of sweating!

Nylon

Nylon is stronger than polyester and there is a lot of stretch in it. But it is also one of the synthetic fabrics with the most chemicals.

The chemicals can enter through your skin, and if you are sensitive to this, you can even suffer serious allergic reactions.

Yet another risk of nylon is that it can melt near high temperatures and cause serious burns.

Wool
Wool is a case of doubt. It is a natural, animal fabric and therefore can be worn by many people without problems. It is a very nice material and wonderfully warm in the winter months.

However, especially for sensitive and dry skin, it can also be very itchy. Not everyone suffers from it, but some people feel their skin itch just at the word “wool.

If this is the case with you, and you still want to wear wool clothing, choose merino wool. In fact, this is softer than other wool textiles.

Bedding

Substances your skin comes into contact with are not just garments. Think about your bedding, too, because this is what you sleep in every night, after all.

Right at night is the best time for your skin to recover. In addition, you may sweat a lot then, causing bacteria to multiply, and this can cause skin irritations.

Therefore, do not specifically choose beautiful bedding, but rather bedding made of a suitable fabric that is breathable and kind to the skin. And this, of course, can also be very beautiful!

If you think there is not much innovation in pillowcases then you are definitely wrong. There are all kinds of brands these days that release special pillowcases that are extra good for skin and hair.

These pillowcases are often satin, or made of silk, giving it a smoother surface and less friction.

Not only will this prevent those sleepy creases in your facial skin, you’ll also be rid of the tangled “just-out-of-bed hairstyle”!

Silk pillowcases are often a bit more expensive, but because of the aforementioned amino acids, they are very good for the skin. Especially for skin conditions like acne, these pillowcases are very suitable.

Some brands even offer special hygiene pillowcases treated with restorative and antibacterial creams or tea tree oil to promote skin repair while you sleep!

More tips for skin irritations

Skin irritations can be caused by the fabrics, as well as by clothing that is too tight. In fact, this is bad for blood circulation, so it is a good idea to consider this too when buying new clothes.

If treatment products such as paint and formaldehyde have been used, it is recommended that new clothing be washed before wearing. If you are very happy with a purchase, you naturally want to wear the garment right away, but washing it first removes the excess formaldehyde.
If you suffer from serious skin conditions then washing twice is recommended.

Your detergent can also cause irritation. Formaldehyde is not only found in treatment products, it is also found in a number of fabric softeners. Perhaps switching to another brand may already solve your skin problems.

In addition to new clothing, vintage clothing can also cause skin irritations. Sometimes these have not been adequately cleaned and there is years of accumulated dust and other dirt in them. So always clean these well before wearing them!

Last but not least, make sure your skin is well hydrated. A good start is ( as the saying goes ) half the battle.

Making sure your skin is in good shape will prevent you from starting the game already behind. Dry skin by itself brings problems such as flaking, irritation and itching.

If you start rubbing this with a substance that you may be just a little more sensitive to than other substances, your skin will also react more violently. She had already gotten up with a slight morning mood, and starting to whine right away doesn’t make it any better :).

So always make sure your skin starts with proper preparation. Then the chance of irritation is also many times smaller.